Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: Claimed to have made the IOCL function a great success, the BJP has focussed western Odisha, where a mega farmers rally is going to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 21.
"The PM's farmers' rally, which is going to be organised in Bargarh, will be the biggest one", BJP's Odisha's in-charge Arun Singh said.
The central as well as State leaders have made marathon visits to the circus ground at Bhatli in Bargarh, the rally venue, and reviewed the preparation activities.
Chhatisgarh Assembly Speaker Gouri Shankar Agarawal and BJP national general secretary Soudan Singh visited the rally venue. State president Basant Panda and in-charge Arun Singh have also kept a close watch on the preparation for the PM programme. The party has expected a huge footfall at the meeting.
"We have planned to organise a mega rally for the Prime Minister as mark of respect. Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Odisha again to reach farmers with all welfare measures taken by him for the benefit of the farming community,"Basant Panda said.
On the other hand, chief minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to visit Kalhandi and Bolangir district on February 18, barely three days before the PM programme. Patnaik is scheduled to lay foundation stones of some irrigation projects in two districts for which the regional party has planned to gather farmers from both the districts. Political analysts said CM's programme is a move to counter Modi rally to which BJD denied.
"The PM's February 21 programme is their party programme. So, it should not be linked with the CM programme, which is complete official", BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said.
Meanwhile, the twin programmes of BJP and BJP did not go well with Congress which termed the events as another ploy of both parties to cheat people.
"Why he (prime minister) is coming to Bargarh again. Has he any intention to make false promises for the farmers again? Likewise, the chief minister had declared package for the farmers at a mega rally in Bargarh. Ninety per cent of people are yet to get the package. Why he is visiting Bolangir again? I believe that people would give a befitting reply to both the parties in coming days", Narasingh Mishra, Leader of Opposition, said.